(Sentinel photo by Brian Schekirke) K-P's Amanda Dirksen (7) and Allison Bird (8) work together to block a hit by Alta's Hillary Glienke during the Lady Panthers' 3-2 loss to the Cyclones Tuesday evening in Kingsley. [Click to enlarge]

Kingsley-Pierson volleyball coach Jon Mouw said nerves were a little shaky the Lady Panthers opened their season with a 3-2 loss to Alta Tuesday night in Kingsley.

"We were so nervous," Mouw said.

The Cyclones made a strong statement early as the visiting squad won consecutive games by scores of 25-17.

(Sentinel photo by Brian Schekirke) K-P's Kelsey Krieg sets up a hit during the Lady Panthers' 3-2 loss to Alta Tuesday night in Kingsley. The senior setter totaled 25 assists in the five-game match. [Click to enlarge]

But the Lady Panthers bounced back in games three and four to force a fifth game. K-P got a commanding 25-16 win in game three and game four saw a 25-18 K-P victory.

But the Lady Panthers couldn't quite cut the Cyclones' pressure in game five, as Alta took the 15-9 win and won the match 3-2.

"Honestly, I don't think it should have gone to a fifth game," Mouw said of the competition. "We had a scrimmage last week up at Gehlen and there were just things we did a lot better at that scrimmage that last night we did not do so well."

"We did not serve nearly as tough as we are capable of and we had a lot of serves go in the net," he continued.

The Lady Panthers recorded only 10 aces in the entire five game match, which Mouw said "is a little low for us." Senior Briana Schaeuble had a team-high four aces while freshman Deandra Mahrt added two.

"The other thing was our passing," Mouw said. "Kelsey [Krieg] was just running all over the place trying to get the ball."

Krieg, the Lady Panther's setter, totaled 25 assists on the night. The senior set up Schaeuble and fellow senior Amanda Dirksen to lead in attacks. Schaeuble led the squad with 18 while Dirksen had eight.

Defensively for K-P, senior libero Dani Sudbeck had the most digs with Dirksen coming in right behind her.

At the net, Schaeuble led in blocking with four solo blocks while Ashley Ruba totaled five blocks, including one solo.

Despite a few nerves and kinks in their system, Mouw is confident that his squad can improve from their season opener. "I'm hoping it will get better," he said.

"I watched some game tape today with our seniors right after school. There are some things, like an all-around sharp transition, that we need to work on. Basically a lot of little things that add up to one big thing."

The Lady Panthers will have some time to boost their skills this week before traveling to Correctionville for a triangular match with River Valley and Westwood next week Monday. The match will be the Western Valley Conference opener for K-P.